Improvement in car-couplings



J. H. HER RIFP. Gar Coupling.

No. 201,669. Patented March 26,1878:

ATTORNEYS,

N- PETERS, PNOTQ-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

JONAS H. HERRIFF, OF CITY BLUFF, MISSOURT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,669, dated March 26, 1878 application filed October 31, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JONAS H. HERRIFF, of City Bluff, in the county of Nodaway and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Gar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification:

The invention will first be described in connection with the drawings, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is avertical section taken longitudinally through one end of a car having my improved coupling applied to it. Fig. 2 is a front view of the coupling. Fig. 3 is a section taken horizontally through the front end of the drawbar on its coupling-hook, in the plane indicated by the dotted line y 3 on Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The letter A designates the shank of a draw-bar, which is guided in a box, B, and constructed with an open outwardly-flaring head or mouth, A, that is angular in shape, and adapted to receive the link 0 and guide it to its place behind a central steel fin, a, that may be replaced when worn, rising from the floor of the draw-bar.

D designates a coupling-hook, the upper side of which is connected by a curved spring, S, to the roof of the flaring portion A of the draw-bar. This coupling-hook is constructed with an upwardly-directed front end, in rear of which is a longitudinal groove, b, to receive the fin a, and a transverse groove, 0, to receive the link 0 when one end of it falls behind the said fin.

The coupling-hook D has attached to it a bail, E, which, by means of a connecting-rod, e, and an angular lever, F, on the end of the car, will allow the-front end of the couplinghook to be raised.

During the act of raising the front end of the coupling-hook D to effect an uncoupling,

the lip nbeneath the transverse groove 0 will lift the end of the link over the rear end of the fin a. When a coupling is effected, the fin to and grooved coupling-hook D will prevent a casual detachment of the link.

The rear end of the draw-bar -A'is connected to the box B or its equivalent by means of aloose bolt, g, which passes through a cross-beam, N, and is inclosed on opposite sides of this beam by means of springs h h of metal, india'rubber, or other elastic material. These springs prevent shocks in startingor stopping cars.

The draw-bar is suspended from a chain, J, by means of a stirrup, M, arranged between suitable guides, and allowed to receive free vertical movement; The chain J is passed over a grooved pulley, f, and around a vertical rod, J which is free to turn in journal-boxes fixed to the end of the car. The brakeman can raise or lowerthe coupling end of the draw-bar by grasping the crank t on the upper end of the rod J and turning this rod.

The support of the link on floor of drawhead is arranged to act as a fulcrum, so that, in case a car should fall from the track or through a bridge, it raises the end of the link which is fastened to the car which remains on the track against coupling-hook D, thereby lifting itself over the fin a, when the car will be free from the balance of the train.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A hook, D, held by a spring, S, in drawbar, in combination with bail E, rod e, and bent lever F, as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The draw-bar A, suspended bya stirrup, M, chain J passing over pulley, and rotary rod J, as and for the purpose specified.

JONAS HARTZELL HERRIFF.

Witnesses r J. F. MONTGOMERY, J. W. J onus. 

